On 17th January 2024 a memorial service was held at the Russian section of the Christian cemetery in Borgel in the capital of Tunisia on the occasion of the 145th anniversary of the birth of admiral Mikhail Berens.
The service was held by the rector of the churches of Christ’s Resurrection in Tunis and of the Right-Believing Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky in Bizerte archpriest Dimitry Netsvetaev, reports the website of the Patriarchal exarchate of Africa.
Father Dimitry consecrated a new headstone on the graves of the holders of the Order of Saint George, the restoration of which was undertaken by the Russian embassy in Tunisia.
The priest also addressed those present by speaking briefly on the life and death of admiral Mikhail Berens. The Russian naval officer died in emigration in 1943 and was originally buried in the city cemetery in Megrine. In 2001, with the help of Russian diplomats, the admiral’s remains were transferred to the cemetery of Borgel in the capital. At the initiative of admiral Igor Kasatonov, the headstone was brought from Russia and erected with honours over the grave of Mikhail Berens.
At the memorial ceremony dedicated to the 145th anniversary of the birth of admiral Mikhail Berens there were present the Russian ambassador to Tunisia Alexander Zolotov, staff from the Russian embassy and the Russia House, the military attache of the Russian Federation in Tunisia, representatives of the Russian Heritage Association, the Tunisia-Russia chamber of trade and industry, Russian compatriots and citizens of Tunisia.
Translation: DECR Communication service
